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HomeMy WebLinkAbouthancock-street_0020 FORM B - BUILDING In Area no. Form no. 11ASSACIIUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION C 105 Office of the Secretary; State Tinned in Lexington _ cess 20 Hancock St. Uzi ;ent use Home i ent owner - ription: circa - - - 1840 a „ -• y lurce ' €- 9 =d _ _ v�yaC Greek Revival w� mansard roof 4. Map. Draw sketch of building location Architect in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings. Indicate north. Exterior wall fabric Wood clapboard Outbuildings (describe)2 car garage attached t eii Other features Front porch w/4 greek ionic colums . Windows 2 1 window each side of _ center. 3 dormers in slate (6 sided) shingle _ mansard, lst. floor windows tallest, 2nd. r +�' shortest (over) Altered Roof Date 1870s MovedDate N t t .► k �•; aocl� d `�--/ 5. Lot size: Less than one acre x Over one acre /J Approximate frontage 50 _ Approximate distance of building from street :A. 25 DO NOT WRITE IN THIS SPACE 6. Recorded by Muriel Williams USGS Quadrant Organization Lex. Hist. Com. MHC Photo no. Date 8/25/75 (over) 7. O- ;final owner (if known) Original use Subsequent uses (if any) and dates 8. Themes (check as many as applicable) Aboriginal Conservation Recreation Agricultural Education Religion Architectural Exploration/ Science/ The Arts settlement invention Commerce Industry Social/ Communication Military Humanitarian Community development Political Transportation 9. Historical Significance (include explanation of themes checked above) Brackets paired under dormers and single at corners. shutters front 3rd & lst. Granite foundation Two central chimneys Fr. door no lights, simple framing lst. floor front windows to floor One room deep at front - ell behind west side, also mansard (added when mansard for front? Rear ell beyond. 10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps, etc.) INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Town Property Address LEXINGTON 20 HANCOCK STREET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No. MASSACHUSETTS ARCHIVES BUILDING 220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD © 105 BOSTON,MASSACHUSETTS 02125 ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION: According to the present owner(E.Ashley Rooney),this house was originally a saltbox with an addition to the rear(?). Granite foundation culminates in brick at the last addition. The third floor(mansard roof)was added c.1870. Garage was a carriage house. A well was in it. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The early history of this house remains somewhat unclear. According to the present owner, at one time the property was reportedly owned by Samson Adams. He died in 1785 and the land was sold to pay his debts. In 1846 Samuel and Maria Bridge sold the property to Jonathan and Abigail Parker for$125 (Book 956, Page 495). The 1853 map confirms that the house was then owned by J.S. Parker. Jonathan Simonds Parker(1812-1859)was captain of the Lexington Artillery,town treasurer from 1839 to 1844, assessor from 1850 to 1857 and 1859 and selectman in 1843, 1844, 1849. In 1835 he married Abigail Tuttle, daughter of David and Abigail Tuttle. The 1889 map shows it was then owned by Mrs. Seaver. Directories indicate that Miss Elizabeth Seaver was living here in 1894. She is last listed at this address in the 1915 directory. The peonies in the lower garden were planted in 1913 (as told by Doris Patrick to E. Ashley Rooney). Doris Patrick bought the property in 1925 (Book 4888, Page 451). She and her sisters were the seamstresses in town. Wedding and debutante gowns were fitted in the middle room. E. Ashley Rooney has owned the house since 1972 and purchased it from R. Murray and Frances Chastain. BIBLIOGRAPHY: Hudson, Charles. History of the Town of Lexington. Cambridge: The Riverside Press Co., 1913,vol. 2,p. 517. Lexington directories, various dates. Middlesex County Registry of Deeds, Cambridge,Mass. Rooney, E. Ashley(present owner). Information on history of house, Sept. 2007. 1853 Map 1889 Map Supplement prepared by: Lisa Mausolf July 2009